Our team at Wine & Waste recently watched – and discussed – The Minimalists movie with our Waste Free YEG community. Minimalism can be a controversial and complicated subject, but it also has a strong connection with the “zero waste” movement. It is important to understand the origins of minimalism, how it links to the zero waste movement, and how it is practiced – and celebrated – differently depending on your race and economic status. Minimalism and zero waste lifestyles can’t exist without community, and sharing the knowledge each of us has will help everyone deepen our understanding.
To note: In this article we use the terms zero waste, waste free, low waste, and climate movement somewhat interchangeably. Currently it is impossible for folks living in our society to be fully zero waste, so these terms are meant to stand in for multiple points on the spectrum of waste reduction (personal) and climate action (systemic).
Minimalism started as a trend in art and music in the post-war period (OED). It was later adopted by interior designers to affect a certain monochromatic aesthetic. It has more recently evolved into the association with low waste lifestyles that we might be more familiar with, while often still maintaining an association with aesthetics.
MINIMALISM AND WASTE FREE
Here are a few basic similarities between minimalism and a zero waste lifestyle:
- Buy less
- Buy better quality items so they last longer
- Use what you already have
- Can become “buzz words” used by people looking to sell things
Some people might consider minimalism a gateway to a low waste lifestyle, especially for folks who don’t know much about the climate movement – or don’t know where to start – but follow mainstream minimalists. Minimalism advocates for buying less, which directly ties into zero waste, as often buying fewer items means we are throwing away fewer items as well. And if you’re buying fewer things, you tend to be more mindful of those purchases, often doing more research about longevity, origin, and cost (both monetary and environmental).
At the most basic level, minimalism (the lifestyle) is focused on having and consuming less. Which aligns with the zero waste movement, where the ultimate goal is to discard less things. At its simplest, if you purchase less you will discard less. Many zero waste folks find success with minimalism as well, because it can help direct and inform low waste habits. But our actions often have broader implications that are unfortunately not that simple.
THE PROBLEMS WITH MINIMALISM
Some of the main problems with minimalism are shared with the zero waste lifestyle promoted by social media influencers and lifestyle bloggers, and backed up by business interests. Is it still minimalism if a new product is heavily advertised and rushed to market every season? There is a lot of upfront investment advised to get the “right” things to do it properly. And there is a certain display of privilege inherent in the free choice to reduce or restrict your consumption of items. Or make what is often a more expensive “low waste”, or more environmentally friendly choice. And the conversations accompanying many of these public-facing minimalism journeys do not often focus on the low waste angle, or address consuming only what you need. They often focus on self-help, superficial aesthetics, or a combination of both.
Minimalism “encourages us to get rid of things for the sake of getting rid of them under the guise of ‘making space’ in our lives”. This often looks like trips to the local second hand store with boxes filled with donations, or extra garbage bags out at the curb. And then (often) back to the store to purchase matching glass jars, matching white baskets, with the aesthetic potentially becoming more important than the reducing and reusing. In the end, this is at odds with our understanding – and best practices – of zero waste.
If we drill down to the root of the concept, minimalism and zero waste are both advocating for less stuff. We should be able to stop worrying so much about what our belongings look like and think more about the purpose they serve.
There is a more insidious concern around both the minimalism and zero waste movements, which can be easy to spot when scrolling through the relevant hashtags on social media. The people in these photos are often very white and very economically privileged. And many of the “new” eco-friendly habits espoused by minimalists have been co-opted from the same or similar habits that Black, brown, latinx, and economically disadvantaged folks from all ethnic backgrounds have been doing for centuries, but were treated with condescension because of their association with these groups. When associated with white privilege, these habits are given a trendy “respectability” that was never afforded to the people who followed them out both of necessity and a deep connection to the environment.
That’s not to say that many white folks aren’t doing great things for the environment using the principles of minimalism and zero waste. But it is important to support and share the work of people of colour (POC) living and teaching these principles.
TAKE ACTION
No matter where you are at in your waste reduction or minimalism journey, there is always more to learn!
Watch this: Let’s talk zero waste and privilege (Polly Barks)
Read this: The Zero waste movement reeks of privilege. Here’s how BIPOC want to change that. (Mic)
Listen to this: The Problem with Minimalism (Slow Your Home Podcast)
Here are some other ways you can take action depending on your ability and access.
LOW EFFORT
“Diversify your feed”. Find and support POC zero waste or minimalist advocates (share their work, pay for their work). Here’s a great list to get you started.
MID EFFORT
Before you purchase a new gadget for your life, see if you can borrow the item from a friend, family, or local Tool Library. Set yourself a time frame – 24 hours, one week – where you will wait to purchase that new item. And once that time frame has passed, re-evaluate if you truly need to purchase it.
MAX EFFORT
Set up a “no buy week/month” for yourself or your household. This one takes the most privilege and planning, so set yourselves boundaries and “rules” that fit within your budget, and make sense for your needs.
What are some ways you have combined ZERO WASTE and MINIMALISM in your life? Share in the comments!
FURTHER READING & RESOURCES
Black Minimalists Directory (Black Minimalists)
RADICAL SELF CARE: ZERO WASTE LIVING (Afropunk)
I am not a zero waster and other misconceptions about zero waste (Fort Negrita)
10 Black, Brown and POC Sustainability Influencers That White Allies Should Know (Eco Warrior Princess)
Minimalism: another boring product wealthy people can buy (The Guardian)
Minimalism Is for the Rich | Forge (Medium)
Is Minimalism for Black People? (PS Mag)
Is Minimalism for the Rich? A Response To Two Articles (Anti Maximalist)
11 Ways Minimalism and Zero Waste Living Are The Same | (Reduce Reuse Renew Blog)
Minimalism vs Zero Waste: What You Need to Know (The Eco Desk)
Can you be Zero-Waste & a Minimalist? (Treading My Own Path)
Minimalism Archives (Going Zero Waste)
Our Commitment to You – Wild Minimalist (Wild Minimalist)
The Problem With Minimalism (The Art of Manliness)
